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From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
Vice President Kashim Shettima has flagged off disbursement of the Community Investment Fund (CIF) in Katsina under the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up Project (NFWP-SU).
Speaking at the ceremony on Sunday, Shettima said the intervention was designed to strengthen women’s businesses as well as increase household incomes and promote financial inclusion.
“The success of the programme should ultimately be measured by its impact on businesses and households,” Shettima said, adding that, “the Community Investment Fund addresses that question with an investment in capability. Over 40,000 women in Katsina State stand to receive business capital, having fulfilled the prescribed eligibility conditions.
“Eligibility must remain the basis of access without favouritism or political interference.
“Each transaction should be properly documented and questions should receive prompt answers.”
In his address, Governor Umaru Dikko Radda said his government had already committed some ₦8 billion to the programme to support additional funding from the World Bank.
“Today’s flag-off marks the commencement of the disbursement process. It is not the conclusion of the process.
“Access to finance must be accompanied by the knowledge, skills, market opportunities and institutional support required to sustain economic growth,” Radda said.
The Katsina State government believes that the initiative will deepen women’s participation in economic activities through direct financial assistance and community-based support structures.
Under the project, beneficiaries will be organised into Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), where they will build savings, access financial and non-financial services, strengthen their businesses and connect to wider markets.
Earlier on arrival in Katsina, the Vice-President was received by the governor at the Katsina airport, where Shettima inspected a quarter guard mounted by men of the Nigeria Air Force.
During the Katsina visit, the Vice-President is also expected to commission three major road projects executed by the Radda administration and equally launch 30 CNG hybrid buses and 200 electric tricycles under Phase One, to boost mass transportation in the state, among other activities.
